Apparatus for operating bell valves



l. A. MORRISON 6 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 28, 1.926.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VALVES Filed NOV. 10, 1924 Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,639

J. A. MORRlSON APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VALVES Filed Nov. 10. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 j a J0 l l/aa 43 46, 20 ,Ma

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J. A. MORRISON APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VAL-VES Filedmov, s sheets-sheet- 5 sept.zs,1926. y. 1,601,639

J. A. MORRISON APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VALVES Filed Nov. lO. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 sept. 2s, i926. 1,601,639

.n J. A. MORRISON APPARATUS FOR DPERATING BELL VALVES Filed NOV. l0. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 28 1926.

J. A. MoRRlsoN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VALVES Filed Nov. 1o, 1924 e sheets-sheet e.

' mechanism.

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

JAMES A. ivxgoRRIsoN,

or CLEVELAND, oHIo.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING BELL VALVES.

Application filed November This invention is an apparatus for open-V ing and closing the charging bells of blast furnaces and for operating bells whenever they are used lfor similar service.

One of the objects of the inventionis to provide means for so controlling the operation of the charging bells Vthat they may be gently opened and closed when desired, without ar or undesirable impact. A further object is to provide an apparatus of the character described, in which the power required for its operation is reducedto such "an amount, as to be almost negligible, in

fact, to such an eXtent that the operationV willrequire during the opening of the bell, only sufficient power to overcome the normal friction of the mechanism and to actuate its parts, and du-ring the closing movement sufficient power to raise lthe unbalanced part of the weight of the bell plus the friction of the machine. A further object is to provide a motor-operated Vapparatus for operating the bells. of blast furnaces, so constructed that the opening and closing movements may be effected without reversing the direction of the actuating motor. A further object is to-provide emergency` means for stopping the apparatus whenl an undue resistance to Vmovement is encountered, thereby preventing breakage due to closing the bells on pieces of the stock being charged into the furnace.

rl'he invention will be hereinafter Yfully set forth and Aparticularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawing -V Figure 1 is a vertical cross section and elevation of a blast furnace bell-operating apparatus constructed in accordance ,with the invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation illustrating the operating mechanism.v Figure 8 isa top pla-n view of the mechanismillustrated in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail View illustrating the brake Figure 5 Vis a sine elevation illustrating'a modification of the cable connection between the drive gear and the bell lever. Figures 6 `and 7 are vertical and horizontal sectional views, respectively, of the spring ybarrel illustrated in Figure 5. Figures 8 and 9 arel diagrams .illustrating the wiring of two different forms of apparatus controlling theoper'ation of the motor. Figures 10, 11 and 12fare diagrammatic views illustrating the cycles of operation in 1'0, 1924. seriai No..749,11o.

lowering and raising the bell'. a side view partly in section illustrating a modified form ofv limit switch. F igure 14 is a sectional viewV taken at right angles to Figure 13. f i

Referring tothe dra-wings, 10 designates a portion ofarblast furnace (conventionally illustrated), 11 the hopper, and 12 the belll which normally closes the bottom'of the hopper 11. It is to be understood that the element 12 may be either the upper or lower bell of a blast furnace, because the invention is equally applicable to both.

The bell 12 is supported bya rod 13,

which is attached by means of a iierible connection 14, to one end of a bell-beam 15, pivotally'supported by suitable bearings 16. The other end of said bell-beam is provided with a counterweight 17 for counter-balancing a part of theweightof the bell 12.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 20 designates an electric motor, preferably of the shunt wound compound type, having a drive shaft 21, provided with a worm 22, meshing with and driving a worm ywheel'23, on a counter .shaft 211. Secured to said shaft24is fa gear 25,.meshing with the drivegear 26, which -is keyed or otherwise secured toa gear shaft 27 mounted in suitable bearings 28. l Loosely mountedl on :thegear shaft 27 are two levers A30, one on each side of the gear 26, the outer )or free endsy of said levers being connected by ra pin or .bolt 31, which extends transversely through said wheel. Secured to the ends of the pin 31 are rope thimbles 32, to which'are attached ropes 33, connected with :an equalizer 34, normally located in a plane above the top of the gear 26. A cablel 36 connects the equeliZerB-l with the bell lever 15. The pivoted ends of thev levers 30 are provided with grooves 37. to receive the ropes '33 during certain .portions ofthe rotation of the dri-ve gear 26.

Afspring barrel or trunnion 4.1.0 is fulcrumed betwcenthe levers 30. lSaid barrel serves as a housing for helical spring ull, which encirclesk-a rod 42 passed longitudi-y nally through the sleeve, andhaving its ends suitably anchored to sp'olresor other rigid portions of the Adrive gear AThe rod 42 is provided with shoulders contiguous to its ends, formingstops for abutment washers 43, against which the ends of the spring react.-

Figure 13 is l Any desired type of brake may be employed, a well-knownbraking mechanism being illustrated in Figure il. Referring to said ligure, the extension l5 of theV motor shaft is arovided with a brake disk 46, disposed between pivoted levers 47, 47a, each of which is provided with a brake shoe 48, positioned to engage the disk. The lever i7 is connected by a link 49 with a pivoted vlield member o0, provided with a magnet coil 51. The iriee end 52 oi' the lever l? is shaped to serve as an armature for said coil, and is normally engaged by a spring 58.V ln practice, the wiring of the magnet is connected directly across uhe line in parallel relation with the motor so that when the motor is in operation the current will be going through the magnet coil and will hold the armature up,'pressing the spring and releasing the brake shoes 48 from the brake disk 456. Vihenever the current is shut oli' the motor, the magnet releasesthe armature, the spring 53 pushes the lever 47 and its brake shoe over against the wheel, and exerts a pull on the lever i7 so as to bring its shoe against the other side oi the wheel, stopping the wheel quickly and holding it in that position until the current is again turned on the motor and the brake released.

The circuit to the motor is controlled by an automatic drum switch 54, so geared to the mechanism th at when the circuit to the motor is closed through the medium of a suitable controller, said motor will revolve the gear 26 fromthe position of Figure 10. in the proper direction to relieve the pull upon the cable 36, until the pin or bolt 3l and the spring barrel 4:0 have moved through an arc ot about 1800. By this time the bell l2 will have dropped to its lowermost position, so that the stock may fall off into the furnace see Figure 11). The motor, however, continues to operate and drive the gear 2S in the saine direction, until the pin or bolt 31 and spring barrel 40 have moved through a further arc of about 180, or an arc equal to about one complete revolution of the drive gear 26 from the time'its movement was first initiated, at which time the bell will again have reached its fully closed position see Figure 12), whereupon the switch 54 will. operate to shut oi the cur rent, stop the motor and set the brake. it he same time said switch reverses the tield oll the motor so that when the circuit is again closed the motor and the drive gear 26 will be driven in the opposite direction, and the operation repeated. It will be noted that as the drive gear rotates the levers 30 are moved on their ulcra through the spring connection between their ends and the drive gear.

The drum switch 54 may be of any desired type and said switch is therefore illustrat ed conventionally in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 8 is illustrated the wiring diagram tor what may be termed a torque limit relay switch, which possesses certain advantages. Referring to said Figure 8, the conti'oller A. the controller panel B on which are mounted the panel switch D, the master switches C, C, the accelerating switch E, and thev torque limit relay F, are located in the operatorie house. T he motor and drum switch 54 are mounted on the hoist.

Assuming that the panel switch D has been first moved to close the circuits through the line wires, when it is desired to operate the bell, the master controller i is thrown to either position, for instance, to the right as shown in Figure 8. The circuit then follows lthe line wire 0,4', contact 0,3, panel switch D, wire ab, controller arm a from contact a to contact a2, and thence by one of the wires oit cable X, to the Wires a6 oi the drum limit switch. From the limit switch the current passes by a second wire of cable X to the wire e and contact e. From the last-inentioned contact the current passes to wire ai.'

and via wire e2 through the relay of confactor C, and by way ot wire e3, switches et and 612, return vwire e5 and panel switchD to the return line wire es. At the same time current passes from the wire 05.8 through the relay ot contactor C and by wire e7 to switch e4, return wire c5, panel switch D to the line wire e6. The contactors C and C are thereby actuated to close the circuits at contacts s, s and t, respectively, whereupon the current passes from the wire as through the relay ot the accelerating switch E, wire e8, switch e, contacts t, t, wire e10,.contacts s, s, wire @11, switch 612, and return wire e5. lurrent also passes from the wire as through the energizing coil of the brake G, thence by wire cl3 to contacts t, t, wire 610 contacts s, s, and to the return wire e over the same course as the circuit from the aecelerating switch after leaving this point.

Passage of current through the relays or contactors C and C brings the contacts ot circuit closers 7LV and 7L into engagement, and current passing through the coil or" brake G brings the contacts ot'circuit closers e' and into engagement.

The motor startingl circuit comprises the incoming line wire at, panel switch D, wire 7c, coil 7c of the torque limit relay F, wire 7a2 circuit closer t', wire 7a3, coil 751, wire 755, circuit closer e, wire k6, coil 7c, wire 7c8, panel switch D, and return line wire e5.

From the motor starting circuit the main feeding circuits to the motor are as follows (l) From wire 7122, via circuit closer 7i., wire 72., shunt ield 71,4 ot the motor, wire 7V, contacts 7i6, wire 727, contact 7??, wire 7L?, con

Vtact alo., wire 751", vcircuit closer 7z, wire 7:6,

andL thence over the course Vfollowed by the starting circuit from this point.

(2) A secondary circuit from Ythe return llo LeontinelV wire e5, by way of wire m, coil m of the torque limit relay F, wire m2 to the contact m3. At the last mentioned contact the current divides, part ot it tollowingthe wire mt which is included among the wires in cable X, and passing into the main circuit via contact f, controller arm a, and contact a2. rlhe other branch ot the circuit :trein contact m3 *follows wire m5, passing through the coilv m6 to the return wire c5.

ln Figure 9 the torque limit relay F is omitted, and hence the wire le is connected directly to the wire k2, the motor starting circuit being the same as described in connection with Figure 8, except for this slight change. The'secondary branch of the main eeding circuit in Figure 9 passes from switch 612, through coil 0, and 4wire o2 to the contact f through cable X.

The torque limit relay F is provided with series coil k', through which all of the current used by the motor flows. .The relay may be adjusted to operate at any desired current in excess of the full load motor current. lt' then, there is an obstruction to the closing of the bell, or should the drum switch fail to function, the load' on the motor will build up as the spring 4l is compressed. llfhen the load has built up to the value for which the relay is set, the contacts with the said relay will be pulled open, and the control circuit for the switches C, C', and G will be broken, thus disconnecting the motor from the line and applying the bralre.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the torque limit relay is provided with a shunt holding coil m which is energized c whenever the master controller A'is inv operating position. The contacts of the torque limit relay will, therefore, be held open and the motor will be disconnected from the line until the torque limit relay is reset. This is accomplished by bringing the master con'- trollcr to the off position. ThenY by reversing Vthe master controller, the bell may be lowered in order to clear the obstruction.

ln lieu ot employing the spring barrel 40 and its method ot spring connection .between the levers 3( and the drive gear 26, the construction illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 may be employed. Referring to'said figures, one end of the ropes 83 instead of being connected to the equalizer 34, which is in turn connected with the bell lever l5, is connected to a spring barrel S, the other end beingconnected through a rope thimble toa rigid pin in thegear.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, 60 designates au abutment plate provided with a central tubular extension 6l, through which is passed a rod 62, forming one member of a turnbuclrle 63, the other member of which i is connected to the cable leading to the bell lever l5. Said'rod 62 is held in place by means o'f a'nut 64, which is locked by means of a plate 65. Interposed between the plate and an abutment plate 66 loosely mountedon the rod 62, are springs 67, retained in place by suitable rods 68, two of said rods being provided with eyes 69 by means of which the ropes 33 may be connected in place. l p

Carried by the spring barrel S is a casing 70, in which is located an automatic switch 7l., conventionally illustrated, to which the circuit wires lead, as shown. The operation is practically the same as the construction illustratedin Figures l, 2 and 3, i. e. any sustainedresistance to movement of the bell will cause a compression of the springs 67` until-the switch 7l is operated.

lVhen the automatic switch 71 is carried by the spring barrel S, or when such a switch is carried by the gear 26, as indicated at 72, and operated through an arm 73 connected with the levers 30, as illustrated in Figure 13, the circuits are controlled by the switch in the manner illustrated in Figure 9. Referring to said figure,the circuits are identical with those illustrated in Figure 8, except that the torque limit relay F and its circuits and adjuncts are omitted. In this case, the normal control is through the contact elements of the drum switch 54, vwhich break the motor circuit as the gear approaches a predetermined position, and the spring ot the barrel S, or that carried by the barrel 40, (Figure 13), at the same time is compressed a predetermined distance. In operation, should an obstruction become lodged between the bell and its seat while the bell is being raised, or should the drum switch 54 'fail to function, and the spring becomes compressed beyond a predetermined amount, the switch or 72, as the case may be, will be thrown out, the circuit to the motor willbe broken, and the brake .set onA the motor.v Y

l* will be readily apparent to those skilledl inthe art, that the motor is startedbut once, and runs continuously in one direction until the cycle is completed and the bell hasv apparatus. Or if any piece of stock should sticlr between the bell Vand the hopper, preventing the closing of the bell, the motor will be stopped, the brake set, and damage entirely prevented. n

It willv also be readily understood that when the bell is being lowered, the stock on the bell will tend to overhaul the motor, and if the gearing is suliciently efficient, it will make the motor run faster than its normal speed. ln this case, because a shunt-wound or compound-wennd motor is used, as soon as themotor has passed its normal speed, it becomes a generator and as such is a most effective brake, holding back on the rope, and preventing too rapid lowering of the bell.

rllhe operation ot the equipment isas tollows Starting with the bell closed, the current oli the motor; the brake set; and a charge of material in the h pper and resting on the large bell, the current is turned on the motor; this also releases the brake. The torque ot the motor, aided by the pull on the rope from the weight oi the material on the bell, starts and accelerates the motor rapidly until it has reached its normal speed. ll the gearing is suicientlyv eicient, the motor will passY normal speed, and will immediately begin to generate current which will be thrown back into the line, and at thesame time the motor will hold bach on the morenient ot the bell preventing its reachi; a speed faster than is sate or desirable.

las the pin 3l carried by levers 2:30 approaches and passes the dead center, the bell is gradually slowed down, stopped and then raised. As the bell approaches its closed position, the automatic control gently slows down the motor and stops it when the bell is actually closed, and sullicient tension has been. applied on the rope to hold the bell shut when the stock is placed thereon, sets the brake and holds it there until the cycle is reversed and the operation repeated.

ln case some material linds lodgment be tween the bell and the edge ot the hopper, preventing the mechanism from completing the cycle as just described, the motor, ot course, continues to revolve, thereby causing the levers 30 to compress the spring Lll u'ntil sufficient torque is generated to operate the torque limit relay F, causing the current to be cut oil from the motor and the setting oit' the brake. 0r it an automatic switch is employed in lieu ot' the torque limit rela-y, the same result is secured through the operation ot said switch. ln either form oi' apparatus the equipment is protected from damage.

ln case the drum switch should fail to operate and stop the mechanism, when the bell has reached its closed position and can not travel any farther, then the motor will be stopped by the torque limit relay or the automatic switch, as the case may be, and held in position until repairs or adjustment can be made to the drum switch, so that it will operate satisfactorily.

lt will be readily understood that this equipment requires a minimum expenditure ot power in its operation. In tact, it the gearing is sufficiently eilicient it becomes to some extent a power generator instead ol a power user during the lowering ot the bell. In its safety features it is absolutely effective, because any failure ot the control 4mechanism or fouling ot the parts, will immedii ately result in the stopping oi `the motor and the setting ot the brake, without introducing into any aart ot' the equipment any strain greater than that required to coinpress the spring so that the motor will be stopped through the operation ot the torque limit relay or the automatic switch which of course, is only slightly in excess ot the usual operating strains.

t to be understood that while the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the operation ot bells for blast furnaces, it is not limited to this pan ticularart, but is equally applicable to any lrind of bell valve, whether a blast furnace bell, or tor shutting cti" the flow oit gas other connections, or for any similar use of bell Yfor closing an aperture.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative man- Y ner ot const. ting and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all ot the forms ot its use, what is claimed is :H

l. in apparatus tor operating bell valves comprising bell-operating means including a cable, a motor-driven hoist member, and means yieldably connecting said hoist meniber and one end ot said cable. n

2. An apparatus tor operating bell ya Ves comprising. a bell-operatinolever, a motordrive'n hoist member, an operating cable positively connected at one end to lever, and means yieldably connecting the otheil end of said cable to said hoist member.

3. ein apparatus lor operating bell Valves comprising a bell-operating lever, a motor driven hoist member, ropes extending toY po sitions on opposite sides of said hoist mem ber, an operating cable connected at one end to said lever and at the other end to both oi said ropes, and a yeldable device connecting ber.

shaft, a hoist memberr rotatable with.

G. An apparatus torY operating bell valves comprising. 'a bell-operating lever, a reversibly `operated e motor-driven hoist" member, arms pivoted at one' enden the axle or sha-tt oi said hoist member and having their other. eues connectcdfto saidmember, ropes'icon` nected tothe 'tree ends of said arms, and meansV connecting said ropes to said bellopcratinglever, said arms having. cable receiving vgrooves at theirrpivoted ends."

7. a apa'ratus for operating bell valves comprising bell operating means including a cable, a reversilfly operable motordriven hoist member, arms each pi'voted at one end on the axis ot said'hoist member, a yieldable y connection between the free ends ot saidl armsand said hoist member, and connections between said arms. and said cable.

8. in apparatus for operatingv bell valves comprising bell-operating means including a cable, ai reversibly koperable motor-driven said shaft, an arm pivoted at one end to said shaft and yieldably connected at itsf'free endto said hoist member, and meansconnecting said arm and said cable.

9. An apparatus for operating bell valves comprising bell-operating means including a cable, a reversibly operable motor-driven hoist member, arms each pivoted at one end on iulcra coinciding with the axis of said hoist member, a pin connecting the free ends of said arms, means yieldably connecting said pin with said hoist member, and means connecting said arms with said cable.

10. An apparatus for operating bell valves com rising bell operating means including a ca le, a reversibly operable motor-driven hoist member, arms each pivoted at one yend on tulcra coinciding with the axis of said hoist member, a spring barrel mounted between the free ends of said arms, a spring mounted in said barrel and reactingagainst rfixed portions ot the hoist member, and

means connecting said arms with said cable. 11. An apparatus for operating bell valves `comprising bell-operating means including a cable, a reversibly operable motor-driven hoist member, arms each pivoted at one end on fulcra coinciding with the axis or" said hoist member, a pin connecting the free ends of said arms. a spring barrel pivotally mounted onsaid arms, anchoring means or` said barrel, a spring located in said barrel and reacting against iixed abutments, and means connecting the tree ends of said arm with said cable.

1Q. An apparatus for operating bell valves comprising bell-.operating means including a cable, a reversibly operable motor-driven hoist member, arms each pivoted at one end on fulcra coinciding with the axis of' said hoist member, a pin connecting the free ends of said arms, a spring barrel pivotally mounted on said arms, a rod extended through said barrel andy securedto said'hoist` hoist member and having cable receiving grooves at their pivoted ends, means connecting the' 'free ends otvsaid .arms to a normally iixed posit-ionen said hoist member, ropes connected to the iree ends 'of said arms and positioned to enter said' grooves, vand means' connecting said ropes with said cable.

145. An apparatus yi'or,operatingbell vali/'es comprising bellfoperating means 'including a cable, a reversibly operable motor-driven l' hoist member, arms each pivoted at one end on iul'cra coinciding with the axis of said hoist member and having cable receiving Agrooves at their pivoted ends, means connecting the tree endsof saidlevers to a-normally fixed position on said hoist member, ropes connected tok the free ends ofV said levers and positioned to enter said grooves, and a cross-head connecting said cable and said ropes.

15. An apparatus for operating bell valves comprising bell-operating means including a cable, a motor-,driven hoist member, means yieldably connecting said hoist member and one end of said cable, and emergency means controlled by said yieldable connection for shutting off the motor.

16. An apparatus for operating bell valves comprising bell-operating means, a reversib'ly operable motor-driven hoist member, levers each pivoted at one end on i'ul-y cra coinciding with the `axis oi' said hoist member, means yieldably connecting the free ends of said levers and said hoist member, connections between saidlever and said bell-operating means, and emergency means controlled by said yieldable connection for shutting off the motor.

17.' An apparatus for Voperating bell valves comprising' bell-operating means, a reversibly operable motor-driven hoist member, levers pivoted at oneend on tulcra colil) inciding with the axis of said hoist member,

a spring barrel mounted between the tree ends of said levers, a spring mounted in said barrel and reacting against fixed portions of the hoist member, means connecting said levers with said bell-operating means, and emergency means controlled by saidsp-ring for shutting off the motor.

18. A bell hoisting member comprising bell operating means, a motor, a hoisting gear operated thereby, means yieldably connecting said gear and Vsaid bell operating means, and a torque limit relay controlling the motor Vcircuit andv operable through the torque developed by said yieldable connection.

19. A bell operating apparatus comprising bell-moving means, a motor, a hoist member operated thereby, a yieldab'le connec-tion between said hoist-member and sait bell-operating means, a drum limit switch controlling the operation of the motor, and

a torque limit relay operable to stop the motor when the drum switch tails.

20. A bell operating apparatus comprising bell-moving means, a motor, a hoist member operated thereby, means yieldably connecting said hoist member and said belloperating means, and a torque limit switch having a series coil in the motor circuit, said switch being set for a predetermined. torque value to be developed by said yieldable connection.

2l. A bell operating apparatus compris ing bell--moving means, a motor, a hoif-ft member operated thereby, a yieldable connection between said hoist member and said bell moving` means, a drum limit switch controlling the operation of the motor, and a torque limit switch having` a series coil in the motor circuit, said torque limit switch being set for a predetermined torque value Vto be developed the yieldable connect-ion.

22.' A bell operating apparatus comprising bell-moving4 means, a motor, Aa hoist Y member operated thereby, a yieldab'le connectionY between said hoist member and said bell operating means, and a torqueflimit switch haviinfg,` a Vseries coil inthe motor limit relay controlling the motor circuit and operable through the torque to be developed by said yieldabley connection, and means whereby the torque limit switch may be reset by reversing the motor contro-ller.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand. i

JAMES A. MORRSON.

4hoisting member and said cable, a torque v 

